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Thursday, May 31, 2012

I had a trip to Indy today to pick up Emily so grabbed one of my favorite CDs to listen to. Our friend, Tom Sproles, of the Sproles Funeral Home, recently released a CD titled Always Faithful. One of the songs was a special blessing this morning as I drove. Don't you love it when God encourages and convicts when you aren't expecting it?

I was weary this morning--feeling the effects of a lost night's sleep earlier in the week. Thankful to leave the house while the well in our front yard was pulled to replace the foot valve and many feet of water line, yet chafing against the cost. A writing project hanging over my head and trying to figure out how I would accomplish everything on my list by Sunday and still take a day to attend my niece's graduation four hours away. Nothing big, just a focus on me instead of on my God.

My heart just stood up and did an about face. I sacrificed the pity party and began counting all the times God has been faithful to me.

Faithful through loss Faithful through physical pain Faithful through emotional distress Faithful through financial setbacks Faithful through weary days and sleepless nights Faithful through the big and through the small

In 1 Chronicles we find the story of God's faithfulness to King Jehoshaphat. King Jehoshaphat was blessed with a Godly father. It's recorded that Asa, third king of Judah, did what was right in the sight of God during his 22-year reign. Jehoshaphat followed his father's God.

About 17 years into Jehoshaphat's reign, a messenger reported that the Syrian army was coming to battle them. King Jehoshaphat asked the people to fast with him. Jahaziel was given words from God. "Don't be afraid," he told the King. "The battle isn't yours--it's His!"

As the army went out to meet their enemy, it was a unique sight. Instead of soldiers, singers and worshipers went in front of the army. "Give praise to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever," they sang. As they sang, God set up ambushes against their enemy. When they arrived at the wilderness, they surveyed the land and saw dead bodies. While they were praising God, He answered prayer.

The psalm they were singing was Psalm 136--the same Psalm sung in Solomon's temple. Spurgeon suggests that it was a popular hymn among God's ancient people. I know it's a favorite of mine. Take a moment to read through it; you'll find yourself praising God for His faithful love.

Psalm 136

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.

Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks for the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.

Give thanks for the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever.

Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
He brought Israel out of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
His faithful love endures forever.

Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.

He led Israel safely through,
His faithful love endures forever.
He hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.
His faithful love endures forever.

Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings.
His faithful love endures forever.
He killed powerful kings—
His faithful love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites,
His faithful love endures forever.

And Og king of Bashan.
His faithful love endures forever.
God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—
His faithful love endures forever.
A special possession to his servant Israel.
His faithful love endures forever.

He remembered us in our weakness.
His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies.
His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.

His faithful love endures forever.

With Tom's song still echoing, my heart began writing my own Psalm.

Give thanks to my Heavenly Abba Father. His faithful love endures forever.Give thanks for joy of being a daughter to Father God. His faithful love endures forever.

Give thanks for the gift of His Son,Yeshua. His faithful love endures forever.Give thanks for sins forgiven and forgotten. His faithful love endures forever.

God is a faithful Father. In Old Testament days--the days of laws and sacrifice--God was faithful. In New Testament days--the days of Christ and religious persecution--God was faithful. In the 20th century--the days of apathy, political frustration and religious questionings--God is still faithful. In my life and yours--His faithful love endures forever.

Wonderful post. Thanks for starting my Saturday off with this. And thanks for your visit...I felt the same way as you did about that waiting cowboy...it just seems there could be a multitude of stories behind that photo. Have a wonderful day.

Thank you for the reminder! Truly God is faithful and we should not doubt it. I have a book where I write down when and where God has saved me, taught me something in the nick of time, blessed me with what I needed. It's so sad but sometimes we forget! How good it is when we are surrounded by brothers and sisters who remind us!!! Patsy from HeARTworks

Pamela - What a beautiful Psalm you wrote. It's easy to forget, sometimes, in the midst of hardships how very much we have to be thankful for! What a blessed reminder you wrote. Out of a thankful heart flows righteousness. Amen, sister!!Jeannette

I could feel your praise crescendoing throughout this post and drawing my feelings along into the excitement of expressing worship to the One who you honor and who is worthy of all our praise. Hallelujah!Blessings to you.

What an awesome tribute to God's faithfulness. Yes, He is faithful. I've seen His faithfulness in my life countless times and I look forward to seeing more of His faithfulness. Don't you just love it when God speaks to you right when you need it? When you least expect it? That's a testament to His love AND faithfulness.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a message. Hope to speak with you again soon.

I couldn't agree with you more. God is faithful and his love does endure forever.. We know this, yet sometimes we need another reminding..Like you hearing it in the words of that song. You are human, things get you down and thats okay.. When you can't,when you feel weary, he does it for you.Yes! his love does endure forever. He loves you MUCHLY! xxx

Like the title of your blog, He is "A Sheltering Tree" and is faithful to protect and provide for us when we face difficult times and even when we lose our focus on Him. I'm so glad that Tom's song brought that focus back for you, Pamela. And thanks for reminding us of what a great God we serve!

Oh, this was just the word of encouragement that I needed to hear today! Thank you. I am always blessed when I visit here.

I loved your psalm, Pamela. The faithful love of God is such a sustaining force in life. We probably will never completely realize its strength in this life.

I have so appreciated the many ways that He is sustaining me through a particularly tiring time. We are moving out of a home that I've been in for 28 years - and moving 2 hours away from family and friends and church.

I am so very grateful for His enduring love - love that goes before me into an uncertain and unfamiliar future.